Arm sling



Jun@ m 11950 A. R. BALDESCHMELER 2,5%474 ARM SLING Filed Nov. l2, 1948 ,Z Fmi,

grr/vm AGNES Ross BALDEscHwsELER ATTORN EY5 Patented `lune 2Q, 1950 .1 f .UNITED STATES OFFICE n f l -.,512,41m.`lIk H v RMSL'NGJQ Agnes Ross faldeschwieler, Asbury Park, N. J. 'Application November 12, 194s,- ,seriel No. 59,548

Y gomas. (c1.- ies-gen invention "relates 'to reversible slings for supporting either arm 'of a pers'on having "an arm or shoulder injury, and is an improvement on the sling disclosed in .my PatentNo. 2,344,844, dated March 2l, T944.

The invention aims to simplify the constructionand improve the application of the sling and "increase 'the comfort 'of -the wearer, as compared with my prior sling, while retaining Aall lof its advantages as vstai-ed in said patent.

To these ends the invention comprises anew .shape 1or out of the garment, which hangs from the shoulders and has a :'ront l:panel the; flower .portion of which narrows and oiset laterally toward the injured s'ide,'.and iis adapted l'to-beL turned up and adjustablysecured to the Afpanel below the shoulder on the side of the injury to form a support for the arm on that side, and a plurality of straps adjustably connecting the upturned lower edge of the arm support portion with a loop for engaging a vertically adjustable support on the shoulder portion of the panel,

The invention also comprises the adjustable reversible button and buttonhole strip for supporting the upper end of the arm sling as hereinafter described.

Other aims and advantages of the invention appear in connection with the description of the preferred embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a front view of the sling as it appears with the arm supporting extension in unfolded position;

Fig. 2 is a back view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a face view and Fig. 4 a back view of the button and buttonhole adjustable support for the sling, drawn to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the button and buttonhole support on the line 5-5 in Fig. 3, drawn to a still larger scale; and

Fig. 6 is a front view of the sling as it appears when adjusted for use upon the left arm of the wearer.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 6 of the drawings, the garment consists of a front panel I and back panel I I connected by strap portions I2 for passing over the shoulders of the wearer, the front and back panels being connected by a waistline portion Id on one side and by waistline extension from the back panel ending in a belt portion I on the other side adapted to engage a buckle I6 at the waistline on the front panel.

The lower portion I'I of the front panel is eX- tended below the waistline toward the side away from the buckle I6 and pleated or narrowed to provide an arm supporting pouch when folded back .andls'e'cured to the left `shoulder portion I3 'o'f the sling as illustrated inFig. v6,. Adjustable straps' I8. engaging in .a liexib'le .ringfor loop 'I9 'are secured tothe extremity of the ypouch I1 and an euijus'table,button 2U 'is provided 'at the left shoulder 'for the loop 'to engage yover when the 'sling is supporting the .left arm `oi the wearer.

.Preferably 'the button 42li is reversibly held in va' "butt'onholeystrip 21 secured` to the rshoulder 'portion' 13 of vthe iront panel.'V A flat strip v22 to which the button is'l'oosely attached 'is provided for holding it `inadju'sted position.

Pockets f23, 52"!! are' sewed onv 'the inner yand outer ajoes of the front panel for 'the convenience of ythe wearer, the former being for 'use when the slingsupports the 'left armancl the 'latter'or use when the sling is reversed andsup'ports the right arm.

The construction of the button and buttonhole strip, as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, provides for three positions of vertical adjustment of the button 20, the panel material being slit and reinforced on one face by turning back a hem or applying a braid or tape 25 which is sewed to the buttonhole strip 2|, and on the opposite face by braid or tape 2G sewed around the entire periphery of the buttonhole strip. Cross ties 21 of metal provided with eyelets at their ends for crimping them in place are suitably spaced vertically on the buttonhole strip to connect the two sides and form secure ends for the several buttonholes. Preferably the buttonhole strip is composed of two strips of doubled canvas or braid which requires no buttonholing at the open edges forming the buttonholes. Either a metallic fastener or thread 28 may be used for securing the button ZIJ to the backing piece 22.

The edges of the garment may be hemmed or bound with tape or narrow strips of cloth folded to provide a finish on both faces as is desirable for strength and appearance. The construction is such that light soft material may be used for the garment without diminishing the security of the sling and greatly enhancing the comfort of the wearer.

In utilizing the device, the garment is put on over the head and buckled around the waist with the buttonhole strip on the shoulder of the arm to. be supported, the button 20 being positioned on the outside so that the loop I9 may be en' gaged over it to support the extension or pouch portion I'I when passed under the arm and brought forward and up into supporting position. The straps I8 are adjusted to suit the gure of the wearer, and if necessary the button 20 may be moved up or down by shifting it into the appropriate buttonhole.

The garment may be turned inside out for supporting the right arm thereby locating the buttonhole strip 2| on the right shoulder when put on, and the position of the button 20 in the buttonhole strip reversed to bring it on the outside and the nat strip 22 to which it is secured on thevinside of the garment in such case, as will readily .be .apparent tothe user. In either condition of use, the garment furnishes an easily applied and comfortable support for the injured arm which securely retains it close to the .body while permitting sufcient freedom of movement to prevent stiffness.

This improvement has the l earlier arm sling, shown in vsaid Patent No. 2,344,844, that it can be made of very light Weight materials and yet be strong enough to stand up in service, and it is easier to apply and adjust.

I claim the following as my invention:

1. A right and left reversible arm 'sling having a front panel supported by extensions adapted to pass over the shoulders and around the waist 4and provided with .means forr securing it upon the body of the wearer.' a pouchportion 'integral with said frontv panel and extending down to one 1 side below the middle thereof, said pouch portion being foldable at approximately the waistline to embrace a bent arm and support the same f horizontally, the upturned lower edge being provided With ar plurality of individually adjustable supports including one near each end and one near the center of said edge and a common suspension means therefor adapted to be secured to the shoulder extension adjacent to the arm to 'be supported.

advantage over myA .th'e elongated openings are formed between two strips of textile material secured to said shoulder extension and cross-connected by ties defining said openings.

y.the common suspension means comprises indesupporting position.

4. An arm sling as set forth in claim 1 wherein pendently adjustable straps engaging a iiexible loop.

5. An arm sling as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pouch portion is pleated vertically to narrow its extremity and form a fullness at about the level of the elbow of the wearer' when in arm AGNES- `Ross BALDESCHWIELER.

lREFERENCES CITED The following references are of lrecord in the iile ofthis patent:

UNTED STATES 4PlilfI'ENTS lNumber yName Y Date 883,004 Dingman f k Mar, 24, 1908 980,464 Wermuth Jan. 3, 1911 1,197,740 Illfgan Sept. 12, 1916 y 2,282,410 Roseman May 12, 1942 2,344,844 Y Baldeschwieler Mar. 21, 1944 

